High temperature vaporization apparatus



Feb. 23, 1954 F. s. BREYER El AL I HIGH TEMPERATURE VAPOR IZATION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1950 INVENTORS BREYER L RUELLE FRANK G.

' ANDRE DE Q. ATTORNEYS F. G. BRE-YER ET AL Feb. 23, 1954 A HIGH TEMPERATURE VAPORIZATION APPARATUS Filed March 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FRANK G.BI2EYER -ANDI2E DELRUELLE ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 F. G. BREYER El AL HIGH TEMPERATURE VAPORIZAT ION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 17. 1950 won n m wm - INVENTORS FRANK G. BREYER ANDRE DEL RUELLE BY M A TTOQ EyS Patented Feb. 23, 1954 a 2,670,196

U -NIT ED S'TA'TES- PATENT]OFFICE' .HIGH TEMPERATURE VAPORIZATION APPARATUS Frank G. 'Breyer, Wilton, Con-11., and AndreDelruelle, 'Irooz, Belgium; Marthe C. H. V. Del-' .ruelle, lawful heir-of said A-ndre Delr-ueI-le, de- :ceased, assig-nors zto iSingmaster 8a Breyer, a. -copartnership Application March 117, 1950; Serial No. 150,118

. 2 Claims. (Cl. 266-25 This invention relates to --a new and improved with "elements of adjacent tiers overlapping, isof vaporization apparatus of columnar *form for that liquids overflowing the basins will cascade continuously treatingor purifyingmolten meta-ls from'tler totierandwill intimately .contactvapors or other heavy or corrosive l1qu1cls or gases passing through the spaces between the 'lheunvention relates also to new arrangements 5 basin elements; While the many basin elements and new elements for the constructmn of high distribute the liquid widely over the chamber temperature vapor zation columns or vertical respace'and produce 'mtimate vapor-liquld contact torts, and it provides, more particularly, an efitherein most of them also are heated internally cient pyrometallurgical apparatus especially .so that they serve also as heating elements to suited Torthe-continuous"refining of metals" such "bringabout partial vaporization 'andhence'purias zin ficatlon of the shallow pools and thm cascades Qne dbiect of'this =invention is to provide an of llqllld exposed to the r surfaces apparatus of the nature mentioned whereby a For the latter purpose many of the "basin e'leheavy or corrosive liquid thatvaporizes at a high 'to provide internal passages for heating gases partalwaporizations and to'intimate'scrubbing or tilinearly' across thatehamber 'space in spaced stripping action "by'vapors or other: gases. para ll elrelation,with their ends opening through Another'ob'j'ect is to provide such an apparatus opposite side walls' of'the vaporization-chamber inwh'ich the liquid is distributed widely over into chambers for heating'-gases at'the outsides refractory 'elements*that provide alarge area of of'those walls.

heat-transferring *surface per unit of space, 5 mtcording to anoth'er'feature ofthis invention;

from hot gases passed through the elements bein a structure of the kind described are formed tween heating chambers at opposite sides of a as'transverse refractory blocks of suitable shape vaporization chamber containing the elements which are s mply stackedand sealed or morta d together 1n order to build two opposite s1de walls so that a large vaporizing or refining capacity may be obtained with an apparatus elf-practicable size. I Andther'oliject is 'to-provide=such* an apparatus in which refractory elements holding shallow pools of the liquid are formed "and 'arrangedso fac-tofily tin-the apparatus with abutting pairs of spaced parallel refractory ktsbmlandther Objectlis to ,proVideanappamtus sidewalls oso arrangedithat the walls :of one pair ofithefna'ture'mentionedwhic h can' 'beuonstructed extenmacmss fipace; between @Wflap inwmxecommicalandipmdfical mannerso as 1:0 40 longitudinal edges iofthexother wallaitheseverail han ful e into the sealed'spzcg zontall-y' movable overlapping walls and compres- Accordmg to one featurg Of' tIfi in enti n a sion springs between one ofthe frames and one.

columnar-chamber made of suitable refractory l 'wmsrmayibeflsed to advantage t materials is provided to receive :a e continuous infpulposfi flow "of*th-e*molten --meta1 er other liquid "to *be? in and ther j cts; features'and treatfidrf nfl 'thls'ehamber is ,fille'd with *a'imultiadvantages of this-inventiomwill "b com anp o.

plieityicff:reiractoryeelements"which are alarmed en't/ftomthe following 'detailed descriptionandi as tlnillow-ibasins at theirfulpperffaces andarethe-accompanying'illustrativertlrawmgsof ajpreeach other and arrangedin tiers iferred embodimentkwhile-the distin'e'uishingTeatures of the invention will be defined particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section throu h a vaporization apparatus embodying the invention, as adapted for the removal from molten zinc or cadmium or other constituents of lower boiling point than zinc.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical cross section through the same apparatus, taken approximately at line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken approximately at line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in transverse vertical cross section, of part of the vaporization chamber structures.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are perspective views of two forms of the tubular basin elements used in construction of the vaporization chamber; and

Figs. '7 and 8 are perspective views of two forms of unheated or non-tubular basin elements so used.

The principal part of the illustrated apparatus is a long vertical or columnar chamber iii adapted, among other things, for the continuous partial vaporization and purification of a heavy corrosive liquid such as cadmium-containing molten zinc. Chamber H! is surmounted by a head 12 and delivers liquid into a sump structure M at the bottom. It has heating chambers l6 and it at two opposite sides, as seen in Fig. l, and supporting structures at the other two sides as seen in Fig. 2. The wall linings and internal structures of chamber 10, head l2 and sump M are all formed of highly refractory materials, such as the silicon carbide material known as Carborundum, which resist the high temperatures and the corrosiveness of molten zinc and substances present in or formed from it.

The head l2 has an intake 20 for a continuous inflow of molten zinc to be purified, which may be delivered through a refractory tube 2|. Head l2 forms a vapor passageway 22 leading to an offtake 22a which is adapted to connect with another apparatus, such as a condenser, where vapors formed in chamber Ill may be further processed. Between intake 20 and the upper part of chamber there may be one or more superimposed trays or weirs 23a, 23b and 230 Over which the infiowing liquid passes to a distributing plate 24 and into the top of the vaporization space l5 of chamber [0. A bailie 25 dips into a pool on tray 2311 to maintain a seal between the intake 20 and the vapor space of the apparatus. The vapors or gases rising through head l2 pass through the liquid films overflowing gain2 tray to tray, as indicated by arrows in The interior space of chamber ill is rectangular in horizontal cross section and is bordered by two pairs of spaced vertical side walls 30, 3! and 32, 33, respectively. The manner of constructing and supporting these side walls will be described more particularly hereinafter. For present purposes it sufiices to state that they define and seal off from the external atmosphere a long columnar chamber space l5 which receives the molten zinc or other liquid from head 12, and which is largely filled by a multiplicity ments 35, 36, 31 and 38 that serve: (l) todistrib ute the inflowing liquid widely among many shallow pools and cascades, (2) to heat and vaporize or boil the liquid at many successive levels of the chamber space, and (3) to produce intimate contact or intimate scrubbing or stripof refractory basin ele-- ping action between the liquids in the many pools and cascades and vapors or vapors and other gas rising in the chamber.

The many basin elements preferably are made of Carborundum, or the like, and as seen in the several figures they extend across space l5 between side walls 30 and 3! in spaced parallel relation and are arranged in tiers with the elements of adjacent tiers overlapping so that liquid overflowing the elements of one tier will fall to elements of the tier next below, and so that vapors or gases rising in the chamber must pass through spaces between the adjacent elements in intimate contact with the liquid. In the embodiment shown there are four forms of the refractory basin elements, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. Those essential to the functioning of the apparatus are adapted to be heated internally, and to this end they preferably are made with a hollow or tubular form' so as to be heated by gases circulated through their internal passages, these passages being isolated from the chamber space l5 by relatively thin refractory walls which are strong enough to sustain the loads imposed upon the individual basin elements but at the same time are thin enough to transfer heat with high efiiciency.

Thus, Fig. 5 illustrates a tubular refractory basin element 35 which has an internal passage 35a for heating gases throughout its length and is one of many such elements adapted to extend across space 15 in parallel and spaced relation to each other and to the inner faces 32a and 33a of side walls 32 and 33; and Fig. 6 illustrates a tubular refractory basin element 36 which has an internal passage 35a for heating gases, and one of which is used in each heated tier of elements by extending across space 15 in parallel and spaced relation to elements 35 but with one side 3612 sealed against the wall face 32a or 330. To the extent permitted by the heating requirements of the apparatus, some of the basin elements may be unheated, or non-tubular. metrical element of this type, which serves in other respects like the tubular elements 35, is shown at 31 in Fig. '7; while an asymmetrical or unheated element serving in other respects like elements 36, and having one side 38a to be sealed against wall face 32a or 33a, is shown at 38 in Each of the many basin elements forms a shallow basin 35c, 36c, 310 or 380 at its upper face.

Elements 35 and 31 are of full-width or symmetrical form and present liquid overflow rims or weirs along both sides of their respective basins, which may be provided with very shallow transverse overfiow channels 352 and 31s, respectively, to assure good distribution of overflowing liquid. Elements 36 and 38 have half the width of the others, and since sealed against wall overflow rim or weir face 32a or 330., there is an only along the other side of each, which becomes the inner side in the assembled apparatus may be formed with very shallow transverse overflow channels 36s or 38c.

In addition, the opposite ends of each basin element are formed as mating or complementary refractory blocks 35d, 36d, 31d or 38d, which support the elements and the liquid on them across space i5, and which serve also as construction elements to build the chamber side walls 3|) and 4, the opposite side walls 30 and 3| are composed substantially en-' tirely of stacks of these blocks, with only a suitable refractory mortar or sealing composition be,- 7

3|. As seen in Figs. 2 and one side of each of thes is tween the'meetingedge faces-er the-blocks.. By'

simply staggering the blocks a'dfiacent pourses as -they are la-id, *the corresponding fbasin :elements of one course or tier are arranged tobver la'p and span horizontal spaces -betweenatheelements'=of" the" tier next' 'below. Thus the-basin elements :are arranged in quincunx; Asishown, there :are;two full width -or symm=etricelements and 1 one half-width or asymmetric the tiers-except :those 'whioh' la'ck access to 5116811;- ing 'gases;

.Etiresults that "liquid entering the upper end of chamberspace 1151mm :head' I2 is collected in shallow pools :byfithe basin elements in the first rev-en distribution of few tiers; which assure-an the iinflowing liquid over the orosseec't-ional area of the dhamber, and :as the infl'ow continues the formed -space l 5 the spaces between the adjacent basin elements. As they rise they fiow countercurrent to the overflowing liquid anthover the: basins, in intimate-scrubbing or stripping contact with the liqui'd;

Accordingly, it's-the feed liquid progresses downlower-boiling material contained in the liquid at that stage; azincwadmium zvapor'zrelatively rich in cadmium being vaporized from the pool of cadmium-contaminated molten zinc on each heated Jbasin element. By appropriate selection chamber fl below.

.Ghamben-Hwis kept sealed from atmosphere b @the external a refractory bafile43 dipping into theqpurified .zinc. As the product it overflows beyond bafile 43 take 44 which carries it to a suitable receptacle.

Heated and unheated basin elements can be If it is desired to supplement or substitute the scrubbing action of vapors formed in chamber I9 with the vapors formed therein.

The manner of heating the tubular basin elements is evident from Figs. 1 and 3. Their tubuat the outsides of those walls. The outer walls of chamber 1 6 may have a lateral extension 5| forming a firing chamber 53 for burners at 54. The hot gases produced at 53 escape only by flowing laterally across the vaporization chamber it) through passages a and 36a of the tubular basin elements, thereby transferring heat through the surrounding Walls of those elements to the many pools and streams of element-in each tier. and these :elements are tubular 'iniiIaIH- which -must 'ascendthrough' the r surfaces of poolsin accumulates into 1a refractoryroifi inggases may betaken o 6 liquid .insidechamber space 115,: Auetractory chamber: 1E6 into; upper *and lower :sectiQnsMBG- and "51; respectively;

ba'me or "partition 5 di-vi'des and -'a similar ba'ifie-oripartitionffit :divides chamber' 8 into upper :and lower sections 59 rand 60.;

from section 57 throug h a lower group o'f tubular basin elements into section '60 fromfiwhich'the used heating gases escape through ofitake E L Depending upon the or 'more additional burners 54 may be provided gases through the tubular bas1n-=e1ements,'xwith-. out -=limitation to the particular arrangement shown. If desired, firing mayoccuratI-the bot-'- tom of either heating chamber and the-usedfheat ff fromthe-top.

It "remains "to describe the manner of support-' ing the side walls of the vaporization chamber:

the: heating chambers 116 and lateral :edges 10f 32 members-18 I The 'four iside 'lwalls are 'kept sealed. together in that relationship by 33 yieldably against in-between walls 35 the butting edges of the and 3|. For this purpose means may be provided as backed up by See Figs. 2 and 3. Along means of screws 11 or the In this way any desired sealing pressure between the butting edges of the chamber side walls can be obtained by suitable formation and 75, and the pressure can (compressing walls I "rand I elements forming walls 30 and 3| can expand longitudinally without obstruction and vertically against their own cumulative weight and horizontally against the force of the springs 15; and the embracing walls 32 and 33 possess similar kinds of freedom.

It will be evident that the disclosed manner of assembling and yieldably supporting refractory side walls of a columnar chamber adapted for use at high temperatures may only to a vaporization chamber comprising basin elements as hereinabove described, but also to vertical retorts or other vaporization columns as used, for example, in other phases of zinc metallurgy.

By an embodiment of the type here described and illustrated a molten zinc fed into inlet 20 with a cadmium content of about 0.5% to 5.0% can be so freed of cadmium that the purified zinc delivered from the sump chamber will contain not more than about 903% of cadmium.

The vaporization apparatus of this embodiment is particularly useful in the production of purified zinc.

It will be understood, however, that the new features of construction and operation here disclosed and claimed as our invention have various other uses and may be embodied in various forms or arrangements of apparatus within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A high temperature vaporization apparatus comprising pairs of spaced parallel refractory walls forming a closed columnar chamber, the walls of one pair extending across the space between and overlapping longitudinal edges of the other walls, and supporting means for said walls including means yieldably compressing those of said one pair against the others so as to keep the sides of the chamber sealed yet readily exansible and contractable, said other walls being each formed of a multiplicity of polygonal transverse refractory blocks stacked together horizontally and vertically between the walls of said one pair, and refractory basin elements extending between said other walls in parallel and spaced and overlapping relation and forming shallow basins at their upper faces, theopposite blocks being integral supporting ends of the refractory basin elements, the vertical and longitudinal dimensions of the stacked blocks determining the spacing basin elements.

2. A high temperature vaporization apparatus comprising pairs of spaced parallel refractory walls forming a closed columnar chamber, the walls of one pair extending across the space between and overlapping longitudinal edges of the other walls, and supporting means for said walls including means yieldably compressing those of said one pair against the others so as to keep the sides of the chamber sealed yet readily expansible and contractable, said other walls being each formed of a multiplicity of complementary refractory blocks stacked together horizontally and vertically between the walls of said one pair, refractory basin elements extending between said other walls in parallel and spacedand overlapping relation and forming shallow basins at their upper faces, the opposite blocks being integral supporting ends of said refractory basin elements, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the stacked blocks determining the spacing between the refractory elements, at least some of said elements being tubular to provide internal passages for heating gases, and refractory heating gas chambers adjacent said other walls in communication with said passages through openings in the refractory blocks of the tubular elements.

FRANK G. BREYER. ANDRE DELRUELLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS between the refractory 

